Jonathan Pollard & America

Pollard should have been released years ago because discrimination and unfairness are anti-American ideas.

America is far from being an anti-Semitic country. In fact, it might be the first country in Jewish history where it’s actually “cool” to be Jewish. That’s one reason I’ve been so reluctant over the years to weigh in on the Jonathan Pollard affair – I’m so in love with this country and all it’s done for the Jews that the last thing I want is to appear ungrateful or, worse, disloyal.

Having said that, however, after a while it gets harder and harder to ignore what looks like blatant discrimination against a Jewish man who in 1987 pleaded guilty to spying for Israel. How else to explain the U.S. government’s harsh treatment of Pollard?

Of the millions of things that have been said about this case, one fact, for me, stands out the most: The government reneged on the deal it made with Pollard.

This point was flagrantly absent in a recent New York Times op-ed written by M.E. Bowman, a U.S. official directly involved in the Pollard case who continues to defend Pollard’s life sentence.

As Alan Dershowitz responded on the Times’ Web site, “M.E. Bowman fails to tell his readers that when Mr. Pollard entered into his plea bargain, the United States government solemnly represented to the court that a sentence of less than life imprisonment would satisfy the needs of justice.”

Nothing Bowman writes in his editorial explains or even refers to this injustice.

“That solemn representation,” Dershowitz writes, “was the quid pro quo for Pollard’s plea of guilty. It violates both the letter and the spirit of that plea bargain. For Mr. Bowman, who was a justice department official at the time, now to urge that Pollard must serve the life sentence imposed on him by the court despite the government having sought a sentence that Pollard has already completed.”

Of course, based on historical and legal precedent, it made plenty of sense for prosecutors not to seek a life sentence for Pollard.

As historian Gil Troy documented a few years ago, “Spies for other allies, like Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Egypt and the Philippines, served anywhere from two to four years, with maximum sentences of 10 years.”

Even two American traitors who spied for the Soviet enemy during the Cold War, Sgt. Clayton Lonetree and FBI agent Richard Miller, served sentences of nine years and 13 years, respectively.

The well-known story that former Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger had it in for Pollard and pushed for a life sentence with the sentencing judge may explain the government’s betrayal, but it hardly justifies it.

So, given that Pollard is now serving his 29th year behind bars, it’s not paranoid for Troy to wonder: “Pollard’s extreme sentence – along with the continuing refusal to free him – has raised questions about official American anti-Semitism and whether Pollard is enduring harsher punishment for the crime of being an American Jew spying for Israel.”

Despite all this evidence of discrimination and unfairness, the mainstream Jewish community has generally been reluctant to dirty its hands with this case. If anything, it has gone out of its way not to defend Pollard, lest it be accused of dual loyalty.

But what so many in our community have missed is that even more than anti-Semitism, the Pollard case is one of anti-Americanism.

Pollard should have been released years ago because discrimination and unfairness are anti-American ideas.

As Judge Stephen Williams wrote in one of Pollard’s failed appeals, the government’s treatment of Pollard is “a fundamental miscarriage of justice.”

The Pollard affair is no longer about the darkness of his crime – it’s about the violation of his rights.

It’s no coincidence that prominent non-Jews, including former Secretary of State George Shulz and former CIA Director James Woolsey, as well as political leaders from both parties, have been lobbying for his release.

They’re not lobbying because Pollard is a hero. He’s not. He’s a criminal. But in America, even criminals have rights, and those rights can get violated.

The Pollard affair is no longer about the darkness of his crime – it’s about the violation of his rights.

Jews must have enough faith in the American system to advocate for Pollard’s rights without feeling the paranoia of dual loyalty.

Those who are finally lobbying for his release on the basis of compassion – focusing on his worsening health – are not doing him any favors. This case doesn’t revolve around compassion; it revolves around justice run amok. As Troy writes, “Justice when applied too zealously becomes unjust.”

You can hate Pollard because of what he did. You can hate him for making you cringe in embarrassment. You can hate him for making American Jews look disloyal to this amazing country.

But if you really want to show your loyalty to America, in my book there’s no better way than to show loyalty to America’s values. And what American value is greater and more honorable than “justice for all”?

The very greatness of this country is that it puts values ahead of men. The values of fairness and justice for Jonathan Pollard are a lot more important than who he is – even if you think he’s a shameful Jew.

The opinions expressed in the comment section are the personal views of the commenters. Comments are moderated, so please keep it civil.

Visitor Comments: 52

(38)
Miriam Yarden,
January 31, 2014 9:47 PM

Pollard did not "spy" for an enemy of the US. And he did not endanger the lives of US agents as did those who spied for the USSR and their ilk.

Last time I looked, Israel and the US were, are and seem to be in the future, ALLIES!

No antisemitism? Hah!

Anonymous,
September 19, 2014 4:16 AM

It is now imperative that you release Johnathan pollard.america, practice what you preach.you will suffer until he is released.g-d will not grant you your wishes if you don't hold up your end of the bargain

(37)
Cheryl Katz,
January 30, 2014 4:29 PM

Our American Justice System

I was born in America, raised as a Conservative Jew similar to most non Jewish Americans who belong to a Church and though I have a love of Israel I have been shocked since my youth at the inequity of the sentence for Jonathan Pollard,

My son might have been a great lawyer, but when he saw during High School "Mock Trials" that Justice depended on the quality of the witnesses and the lawyer and Judges who based their sentencing verdicts on the evidence and laws without enough "Rachmanous" he lost interest.. .I too am disappointed that our system has not reconciled the disproportionate sentence given to Jonathan yet.

(36)
Andy,
January 29, 2014 8:47 PM

Greater Jewish unity will set him free and do a whole lot of other good as well

Jews outside the land of Israel including in America are in exile. That they have been permitted to worship freely, build quality yeshivas, and have the oppt'y for material success unmatched in history does not mean they are home. Even if think otherwise a beautiful hotel is not a home for ones soul. Assimilation, primarily among those poorly educated Jewishly if at all is rampant,and Aish exists to counter that force doing great work world wide,but It seems to me the challenge for Jews who do care about being Jewish and /or Israel is to do whatever it takes to move there.If not , at least raise their children encouraging them to make the move . The Jews are a people, not only a religion and an atheist Jew[born of a Jewish mother or converted according to an Orthodox Jewish court] is as much a Jew as any ultra Orthodox Rabbi. At this time in history to write about America's "deception" [re foreign policy of all nations there are no friends, only perceived interests] or to point out antisemitism exists in the State Dept seems to me irrelevant . Our sages taught that outside of Israel Jews need to think of themselves as temporary guests who owe loyalty to their hosts when allowed to follow their religion. That for certain is the case in the USA. In America Jews have much to be thankful for. I believe that Pollard served more than enough jail time and his debt by any reasonable standard has been paid. Clemency is in order and he should be allowed to come home to Israel and hopefully bring many other Jews with him.

(35)
Guy Poron,
January 29, 2014 5:32 PM

Yosev

How many years did sit Yosev in Pharao´s hopeless jail?So, we believe in HaShem, a God full of Grace, in His time! He will release him! Most men are "somehow" liars for their own profit, aren´t they? Shalom, Jonathan!

(34)
Josh,
January 29, 2014 12:59 PM

Beware

Let this Pollard affair be sign and warning to American Jews. Don't get too comfortable or too confident: injustice to Jews can come on a whim. (Also note the 27 year sentence given to

(33)
Steven Jacobs,
January 29, 2014 11:23 AM

"Let my people go"

Done the crime do the time. He has done the time now let him go free, return him to Israel to live out the remainder of his life, it's enough already, hear me it's enough, time to apply consistent justice, one nation under God with justice and liberty for ALL.

(32)
Yerucham Kopelman,
January 29, 2014 3:36 AM

We Jewish people have a real obsession and sickness. The article "Jonathan Pollard and America", exhibits the addiction to wanting to be loved. In this case to be loved by the non - Jewish citizens of the United States of America. Here is one Jew that realizes that appeasement has never been in the best interest of the Jewish people. Jonathan Pollard is an unequivocal Jewish Hero who saved the lives of Jews, period. Yes the government reneged on it's plea bargain agreement, but it is the act of saving Jews by undermining an American deception of being Israel's friend, that put Jonathan in Jail for life. It is not the act of reneging by itself that doomed him, but rather the "why" was the plea bargain pulled from under. In this Jew's assessment, it was predetermined to send a message to all the Jews of America. "There is no room for dual loyalty." This charge of dual loyalty is in and of itself a sick twisted concept that never seems to apply to anyone else in America other than we Jewish people. The article is truly a display of schizophrenia that has long plagued the American Jewish scene. It is high time for us to unite and march together against state (country) and state department anti Semitism, along with the perverse justice that is a result of it. Let's not hide this motive for it does no favor for anybody, most importantly not for us Jews. The truth will set us free and hopefully Jonathan Pollard. But Jonathan's freedom now rests on our actions. G-d is waiting for us to unite. It is time to unite and for all of us to pray for a Jewish hero's freedom. May we finally unite and bring Jonathan home, not in America, but in Israel. If this is dual loyalty than so be it. We cannot worry about doing what is right even if it gets in the way of our own comfort or our need to be loved.

Dave Lobell,
January 30, 2014 12:25 AM

Yaser Koach Mr. Kopelman

Well said Mr.Kopelman- America loves the Jew for his talents not for his religeious beliefs and the little they have for us is given with a huge grude at that. the problem is that there are not enough Jewish people who have the guts to step forward and march, let alone identify themselves as Jews ?This poor would have been free 25 years ago had we done what we as Jews should have done long ago. I sayt his at the risk of being guilty of Lashon Hora but someone has to say it.

(31)
basha,
January 29, 2014 12:17 AM

he did a mitzvah!

It is true, in Hashem's eyes Jonathan Pollard did a mitzvah, he overrode the policies of America, did what was necessary to save many lives, he should be given the medal of honour instead he is made to rot in prison. Justice, it seems, has taken a back seat. So much water has gone under the bridge since this episode and so many have been pardoned for actual crimes to the US from mass murders to lying presidents, from 9-11 to school room annihilations. It is pitiful to see such a mench wasted.

(30)
Anonymous,
January 28, 2014 11:38 PM

Pollard should stay where he is.

My view is different than many of my fellow Jews. I spent over 25 years in the military so my views are slanted toward the defense of this countries secrets. Mr. Pollard is a criminal, period. He spied for a foreign country, a friendly country but a foreign country none the less. He plead guilty to the crime so he should continue to do the time. I understand that many my fellow Jews may disagree with this so be it.

Anonymous,
January 29, 2014 8:28 AM

He served his time

What about the others who also spied for a foreign country? Mr. Pollard has MORE than done his time and it is high time he was released.

hadassa,
January 29, 2014 11:26 AM

Pollard should NOT stay where he is!

It's a worry that 'anonymous', a 25-year veteran of the military, does not have an adequate command of the English language, which, I assume, is his mother tongue. Jonathan Pollard has MORE than done the time, Mr Anonymous, in case you hadn't noticed. What a relief to know that your military career is over; one would hope that the power of logic and clarity of mind would be indispensable qualities in such a critical field.

Yerucham Kopelman,
January 29, 2014 12:55 PM

While country matters, I think G-d, and Judaism come before country.

Dvirah,
January 29, 2014 4:58 PM

Just FYI

About 2 years before the Polland incident, 2 CIA operatives were caught "red-handed" spying in Israel. The Israeli government, out of consideration for their ally, simply deported the 2 spies back and down-played the story in the media.

It is a pity the US government does not have such consideration.

(29)
Murray Cohen,
January 28, 2014 11:15 PM

Why not protest

When Muslems do not get what they want, there are massive protests around the world.

Where are the Jewish leaders? Where are the world wide protests to embarrass the government?

Isn't it our responsibility to redeem the captive?

,

(28)
Anonymous,
January 28, 2014 9:07 PM

If our government feels it should hold Mr. Pollard, although that was not the original agreement, then they must have something to hide. Shame on them. He deserves to be released immediately. He has served more than his term. I am ashamed of our government for their handling of this man's life.

(27)
David,
January 28, 2014 8:57 PM

Whoa!

"The government reneged on the deal it made with Pollard."No, Pollard reneged on the deal he had with the government. In fact, after his guilty plea, prior to his sentencing, he had agreed not to speak about his case publicly. That same weekend, he and his then wife made the round of the Sunday talk shows. This man is not the hero people want him to be-- he was a spy. He broke his oath. He offered to spy for countries other than Israel, and, according to the government, the sheer volume of information that he handed over did significant damage to national security. He's not a Jewish martyr-- at best, he's a nut-job, and at worst, he's a traitor.

(26)
Shelley from Canada,
January 28, 2014 8:18 PM

The real reason for Jonathan Pollard's continued incarceration?

At first I thought that Pollard wasn't freed because of anti-semitic reasons, i.e. that he was a Jew and was spying for Israel. After many years had passed, I thought that Pollard wasn't freed was because the government of Israel wasn't pressing hard enough for his release. After reading this article and especially after reading the comments, I have now come to believe that Jonathan hasn't been freed because of lack of support from AMERICAN Jews! Let's hope and pray that Jews all over the world can become more united on this issue and that we witness the speedy release of Jonathan Pollard in the very near future, Amen!

(25)
Anonymous,
January 28, 2014 8:11 PM

Start a petition on your site to release Pollard?

I expected to find a petition we could sign to help forward the release of Jonathan Pollard - but am disappointed to find none.Why wasn't this article the beginning of an outrage to have our government release Pollard? Please consider doing this.

(24)
Anonymous,
January 28, 2014 8:02 PM

pollard

I wish more people know the fact that there were three other "JEWS" that were convicted for treason and were executed the only ones that were given such harsh sentences. discrimination I would call it

(23)
dalia,
January 28, 2014 7:32 PM

The Pollard Case - A shameful stain for all American Jews

As an Israeli living in the US, I consider the treatment of Jonathan Pollard the most shameful act of betrayal by the Jews of America ever. Israel has its hands tied when it comes to Jonathan Pollard. All Israelis are grateful to him for what he did and are appalled by the fact that almost thirty years later and many spies for many other countries being freed after just a few years in jail, he is still rotting in jail. Most Israelis see his case as a betrayal of Israel by a country that is supposed to be its friend. Israel is dependent upon the US and cannot do much about it. But what about the Jews of the US? Why have they been silent for thirty years. Nothing, and I mean, nothing, will ever erase this crime.

(22)
ian senior,
January 28, 2014 6:44 PM

Pollard surname

Does anyone know what the family name of Jonathan Pollard's forbaers was before it became anglicized to Pollard.The surname Pollard is indigenious to Cornwall where they were an aristocratic family

(21)
Richard Price,
January 28, 2014 6:04 PM

A sick travesty of justice ?

Reading between the lines as it were the case becomes more obvious, piecing the dots together , USA senior officials made a serious blunder with Iraq and initially backing Sadheim Hussein, Pollard probably intuited as much and in 1981 decided to pass or probably was pressured and asked to pass information to Israelis so they could launch a strike on an Iraqi nuclear installation .

For God's sake release this man ! He did the Israeli's and the USA a favor in the longer term , what the hell is wrong with America ?

For loosing face some high ranking officials are making a sadistic point using this man who probably made others look foolish . What a sad sate of affairs it says alot about who is actually running American government behind the scenes .

Oh and while we are on the subject of corruption the latest news reels about Putin's winter Olympics , isn't about time all these powerful elite's who are supposed to have the people's interests at heart are brought to account ?

(20)
Bee,
January 28, 2014 5:55 PM

Read the article by John Loftus

Read the article here on Aish by John Loftus. It is an eye opener. It explains why Jonathan is being held. Ronald Reagan was employing terrorists via the Saudis, including ben Laden! Reagan never ceases to amaze me at how low he and his staff could go.

(19)
HARRY PORTER,
January 28, 2014 5:30 PM

YOUR ARTICLE SAYS IT ALL VERY WELL

(18)
Avraham David Rose,
January 28, 2014 5:27 PM

Vayigash Yehuda

בס"דLet's be clear.Yehonatan Pollard had the choice of just remaining silent and doing his job and no-one would have been the wiser or giving vital information to Israel which America as a supposed ally was meant to be giving them.He risked his freedom in order to save Am Yisrael which in a world of Torah justice would mean serving absolutely no time at all.When our brother is being sold into slavery,we learn from the Torah how to react.When Yehuda thought that his brother Binyamin was about to be sold into slavery,the midrash tells us that he decided on 3 options tephilla,appeasement or fighting.It is time for America to really understand where Am Yisrael stands vis a vis our brother.

David,
January 28, 2014 8:58 PM

Baloney.

Pollard was a spy, not some kind of hero. It was not up to him to decide what America was "meant to be giving" Israel. Moreover, Pollard tried to spy for Pakistan and South Africa as well. Spare us the Torah verses-- this man is not a Jewish hero.

Jeff,
January 29, 2014 6:19 PM

Why do you insist on promoting the same old lies?

(17)
Anonymous,
January 28, 2014 5:24 PM

Pro-hating Jews???

Many points in this article are true and well-said. However, there is NO ROOM in Judaism for the line: "You can hate Pollard because of what he did." Really?? You can HATE him? You can go ahead and hate a fellow Jew? Because I'M giving you permission??I don't see any halachic backing given to this point. And without that, such allowance is not reassuring; it is disconcerting, false, and frankly, not very Jewish.

(16)
Bee,
January 28, 2014 5:06 PM

A friend in the Israeli govt. said Pollard knows too much

A friend in the Israeli govt. said Pollard knows too much. That is why he isn't released. Hard to believe after so much time has passed, but if true we can petition and cry till we are blue in the face.

(15)
Anonymous,
January 28, 2014 4:58 PM

you're missing some facts

1. Pollard broke the deal first -- after agreeing not to talk to the press before sentencing, he did a nationallly broadcast interview with Wolf Blitzer. Judges don't like that. I'm sure the prosecutors didn't either. So much for the "solemn deal."

2. To this day, nobody in the public, including your or me, know what was in the materials that Pollard sold. I note that president after president, Dem or GOP, keeps rejecting his appeals.

3. Ask Jews who work in the DC area and who work in the military intelligence area how they feel about what happened.

4. FWIW, if he's in his 29th year behind bars, then he becomes eligible for parole for the first time next year.

(14)
Pat,
January 28, 2014 4:40 PM

illegal restraint

If because they are of the muslim faith they are released after only 4 yrs and Mr. Pollard, being of the Jewish faith, entered a plea deal then we as Americans MUST stand by that deal, the fact that we haven't is a slap in the face to us and to Israel. RELEASE Mr. Pollard and release him NOW!

(13)
Yisroel,
January 28, 2014 4:28 PM

America Anti-semitic

Rabbi Shmon Bar Yochai said the following axiom: Esau despises Jacob. This has not changed nor will it until Mashiach comes. America may not be an anti-Semitic country as a whole but it has the potential to be one. Anti-Semitism, though, is alive in America. The case of Pollard, Martin Grossman, and that of Shalom Rubashkin illustrate it quite well!

(12)
Anonymous,
January 28, 2014 4:28 PM

Our country released international spies. Mess murderers against the United States We are all ways spying in Isreal in behalf of the enemy of Isreal. I think it took enough time that our government just for humanitarian reason should have let him go ages ago

(11)
Anonymous,
January 28, 2014 4:27 PM

Other reasons?

There may be other reasons why Pollard remains in prison. See, for example, http://www.therightperspective.org/2011/01/05/the-case-against-jonathan-jay-pollard/#sthash.emC4eKuq.dpbs

(10)
Aaron,
January 28, 2014 4:19 PM

Please

Let's face facts: No matter how you feel about Pollard's espionage, the reason he's spent so long in prison is that HE reneged on his plea deal. All he had to do was keep his mouth shut until he was sentenced...but instead he gave a 60 Minutes interview to Wolf Blitzer that went back on the deal and enraged the intelligence community.

If even a fraction of the people who support Pollard took the time to actually educate themselves as to what exactly he did, I wonder how many people would continue to stand up for him.

(9)
Chaya,
January 28, 2014 4:18 PM

Amazing statement! You get to the crux of the problem SO articulately!

Yes, Mr. Pollard was sold down the river by our country and Israel. It is a devastating miscarriage of justice!! Such a terrible injustice perpetrated by our judicial system!! Many years ago, I had a 'pen pal' relationship with Mr. Pollard for a while. I was VERY impressed with his letters and the deep thought and hashkofa that he expressed in his writing. (And his handwriting looks as beautiful as a Rembrandt painting!) He wrote often of his childhood growing up in the South, and the anti-Semitic discrimination he faced there. He was genuinely interested in hearing about my children and their every day lives. But then I realized that my letters were not getting to him anymore. The photos of my children mysteriously did not come in the envelope along with the letter I had sent. When the answers to my letters stopped, I understood that he was not receiving them. How sad. He wrote in a letter once, that he can almost taste my Shabbos food in his mouth, after I had invited him to spend Shabbos with us when he got out. I have called the White House hotline 100's of times as everyone can. The phone number for the White House hotline is 202 456 1111. If everyone keeps on trying, and keeps him, Yonatan ben Malka in their tefillos our tefillos will surely be answered!!

(8)
DeanM,
January 28, 2014 4:06 PM

Not a good idea

For Jews to push for Pollard only makes it worse for him. From the very start the "injustice" angle has been promoted over and over again. Advocacy for him should have been done quietly and without making it into a big public issue. The reason for the harsh punishment is betrayal of America and a nation that is supposed to be America's friend taking advantage of this (Israel). It was to send a strong message: If you are America's friend, you don't betray us.

Anonymous,
January 29, 2014 3:38 AM

You need to read about the panoply of spies

You seem to forget Jonathan Pollard is American and he did what other neglected to do on purpose. If you are Israel's friend and you are supposed to share certain information, then, you do not betray you ally. Of course advocacy for him must be done over and over again and it must be a public issue because of the injustice. No one suffered the same sentence, even the spies who betrayed America for enemy countries. Keep you advice and fight for justice. Shame on America for not carrying out justice equally for everyone and to target the Jew.

(7)
Andy,
January 28, 2014 3:51 PM

There was a crime committed

The sentence served is indeed excessive. However not enough has been said of the crime he committed - he violated this land's law.

(6)
Victor Gordon,
January 28, 2014 3:46 PM

My play about Jonathan Pollard which played in Israel for over 2 years

David,

I am a playwright from South Africa. I wrote a play about the plight of Jonathan Pollard called "Pollard's Trial" which has played at the Cameri Theatre in Tel Aviv for over 2 years. It is the only play to ever be invited to play a special performance at the Knesset before an invited audience hosted by the Speaker, Reuven Rivlin. Every critic in Israel gave it a 5-Star rating.

I would like to explore the possibility of having it produced in the US as it is instructive in dealing with all the issues you mentioned in your article. If you would like to read it I invite you to contact me and I would gladly send it to you. Perhaps you might have some ideas about how a production could be achieved.

Best wishes,

Victor Gordon

(5)
Mira,
January 28, 2014 3:39 PM

Jonathan Pollard served his penalty and should be released now.

The only reason Israel exists today is because of military superiority and maybe devine interventions. When last jews lived according to the rules and regulations of the societies around them 6 million perished in gas chambers..
if it wouldn't be for people like Jonathan Pollard who provided Israel with information to create military advantages who knows what other hell jews would face today?!!
Thank you Jonathan for this sacrifice.

(4)
Kris Kristian,
January 28, 2014 3:29 PM

Pollard's sentence was and is the most disgustin g, unfair, and anti Semitic sentence meered out for a crime like his.

Other, who passed ifo to Russia, had short sentences and were freed.

The US justice system is, in his case, plain, unadultered Jew hatred

(3)
Aliza,
January 28, 2014 2:05 PM

loyalty and where a Jew's true loyalty should be

I have a very difficult time with the idea of dual loyalty. As a Jew, I would think we would have learned over the centuries that our first loyalty should be with each other and with Israel. Pollard made a mistake, he trusted the wrong people, both in Israel and in America.

Anonymous,
January 28, 2014 4:29 PM

I think the sages of the talmud teach otherwise re loyalty

It is my understanding that Jeremiah taught when in exile Jews must prey the law of the land as long as they are given freedom to worship as Jews.Pollard violated that teaching and betrayed his country. In hindsight the damage he caused seems far less than seemed to be the case at the time of conviction and his continued imprisonment seems very unfair for reasons stated in the article and others

Jecf,
January 28, 2014 5:15 PM

Agreed

Aliza, are you from South Carolina ? I taught an 8th grade Sunday school class many years ago & had a student with your same name. Just curious.

(2)
Andy,
January 28, 2014 12:57 PM

You wrote it and i agree it's up to the Jewish community to push for Pollard's release. Reasons are complex but no question in my mind if he wasn't a Jew he'd have been free years ago

"Despite all this evidence of discrimination and unfairness, the mainstream Jewish community has generally been reluctant to dirty its hands with this case. If anything, it has gone out of its way not to defend Pollard, lest it be accused of dual loyalty." It seems to me that there is a Jewish State surrounded by enemies, and if one is in a position to help Israel by betraying the trust of the USA without understanding the possible ramifications he should make a decision according to his conscience and be willing to pay the price. By any fair standard Pollard has long since paid. That to me makes much more sense then to try and prove that the US gov't acted in bad faith as much as that does seem to be true.

Anonymous,
January 28, 2014 7:13 PM

6 Day War

America and the Six Day War

[Rachel Neuwirth Reprinted from Arutz Sheva.] Summary ... During the 1967 Six Day War, was the United States at war, too? And, if so, whose side was it on? It seems that the US sent the USS Liberty to spy on Israeli forces fighting in the Sinai while providing secret real-time battlefield intelligence to the Egyptian military. The US wanted to convince a skeptical Egypt that, despite their siding with the Soviets and their aggression against Israel, the US was really on their side, contrary to US public opinion. Israel was not supposed to discover this secret US betrayal, but they did and decided to only disable, but not to sink, the 'enemy' ship.Why should Israel continue to trust the US government?

(1)
Renee,
January 27, 2014 6:46 PM

change.org petitions

There are a few petitions regarding Pollard's release active on change.org right now. It would only take a few minutes to sign them all (I just did). If everyone who reads this signs them and spreads the word through social networking this could be an enormous success. The time is ripe for this. Everyone: do your part!

Jersey reader,
January 28, 2014 3:34 PM

truth about Pollard

Pollard SOLD his secrets: to Israel (not an innocent player, being Israel recruited him), and then to China. CHINA.Clemency now, perhaps. Innocent, no.

Wayne,
January 29, 2014 2:34 AM

No one said Pollard was innocent

Pollard should be freed not because he is innocent, but because the sentence is disproportionate to the crime and out of line with similar cases. As pointed out in the article, the sentence is unjust.

I’m wondering what happened to the House of David. After the end of the Kingdom of Judah was there any memory what happened to King David’s descendants? Is there any family today which can trace its lineage to David – and whom the Messiah might descend from?

The Aish Rabbi Replies:

Thank you for your good question. There is no question that King David’s descendants are alive today. God promised David through Nathan the Prophet that the monarchy would never depart from his family (II Samuel 7:16). The prophets likewise foretell the ultimate coming of the Messiah, descendant of David, the “branch which will extend from the trunk of Jesse,” who will restore the Davidic dynasty and Israel’s sovereignty (Isaiah 11:1, see also Jeremiah 33:15, Ezekiel 37:25).

King David’s initial dynasty came to an end with the destruction of the First Temple and the Babylonian Exile. In an earlier expulsion King Jehoiachin was exiled by Nebuchadnezzar, together with his family and several thousand of the Torah scholars and higher classes (II Kings 24:14-16). Eleven years later the Temple was destroyed. The final king of Judah, Jehoiachin’s uncle Zedekiah, was too exiled to Babylonia. He was blinded and his children were executed (II Kings 25:7).

However, Jehoiachin and his descendants did survive in exile. Babylonian cuneiform records actually attest to Jehoiachin and his family receiving food rations from the government. I Chronicles 3:17:24 likewise lists several generations of his descendants (either 9 or 15 generations, depending on the precise interpretation of the verses), which would have extended well into the Second Temple era. (One was the notable Zerubbabel, grandson of Jehoiachin, who was one of the leaders of the return to Zion and the construction the Second Temple.)

In Babylonia, the leader of the Jewish community was known as the Reish Galuta (Aramaic for “head of the exile,” called the Exilarch in English). This was a hereditary position recognized by the Babylonian government. Its bearer was generally quite wealthy and powerful, well-connected to the government and wielding much authority over Babylonian Jewry.

According to Jewish tradition, the Exilarch was a direct descendant of Jehoiachin. The Talmud (Sanhedrin 5a) understands Genesis 49:10 – Jacob’s blessing to Judah that “the staff would not be removed from Judah” – as a reference to the Exilarchs in Babylonia, “who would chastise Israel with the staff,” i.e., who exercised temporal authority over the Jewish community. It stands to reason that these descendants of Judah were descendants of David’s house, who would have naturally been the leaders of the Babylonian community, in fulfillment of God’s promise to David that authority would always rest in his descendants.

There is also a chronological work, Seder Olam Zutta (an anonymous text from the early Middle Ages), which lists 39 generations of Exilarchs beginning with Jehoiachin. One of the commentators to Chronicles, the Vilna Gaon, states that the first one was Elionai of I Chronicles 3:23.

The position of Exilarch lasted for many centuries. The Reish Galuta is mentioned quite often in the Talmud. As can be expected, some were quite learned themselves, some deferred to the rabbis for religious matters, while some, especially in the later years, fought them and their authority tooth and nail.

Exilarchs existed well into the Middle Ages, throughout the period of the early medieval scholars known as the Gaonim. The last ones known to history was Hezekiah, who was killed in 1040 by the Babylonian authorities, although he was believed to have had sons who escaped to Iberia. There are likewise later historical references to descendants of the Exilarchs, especially in northern Spain (Catelonia) and southern France (Provence).

Beyond that, there is no concrete evidence as to the whereabouts of King David’s descendants. Supposedly, the great French medieval sage Rashi (R. Shlomo Yitzchaki) traced his lineage to King David, although on a maternal line. (In addition, Rashi himself had only daughters.) The same is said of Rabbi Yehuda Loewe of Prague (the Maharal). Since Ashkenazi Jews are so interrelated, this is a tradition, however dubious today, shared by many Ashkenazi Jews.

In any event, we do not need be concerned today how the Messiah son of David will be identified. He will be a prophet, second only to Moses. God Himself will select him and appoint him to his task. And he himself, with his Divine inspiration, will resolve all other matters of Jewish lineage (Maimonides Hilchot Melachim 12:3).

Yahrtzeit of Kalonymus Z. Wissotzky, a famous Russian Jewish philanthropist who died in 1904. Wissotzky once owned the tea concession for the Czar's entire military operation. Since the Czar's soldiers numbered in the millions and tea drinking was a daily Russian custom, this concession made Wissotzky very rich. One day, Wissotzky was approached by the World Zionist Organization to begin a tea business in Israel. He laughed at this preposterous idea: the market was small, the Turkish bureaucracy was strict, and tea leaves from India were too costly to import. Jewish leaders persisted, and Wissotzky started a small tea company in Israel. After his death, the tea company passed to his heirs. Then in 1917, the communists swept to power in Russia, seizing all of the Wissotzky company's assets. The only business left in their possession was the small tea company in Israel. The family fled Russia, built the Israeli business, and today Wissotzky is a leading brand of tea in Israel, with exports to countries worldwide -- including Russia.

Building by youth may be destructive, while when elders dismantle, it is constructive (Nedarim 40a).

It seems paradoxical, but it is true. We make the most important decisions of our lives when we are young and inexperienced, and our maximum wisdom comes at an age when our lives are essentially behind us, and no decisions of great moment remain to be made.

While the solution to this mystery eludes us, the facts are evident, and we would be wise to adapt to them. When we are young and inexperienced, we can ask our elders for their opinion and then benefit from their wisdom. When their advice does not coincide with what we think is best, we would do ourselves a great service if we deferred to their counsel.

It may not be popular to champion this concept. Although we have emerged from the era of the `60s, when accepting the opinion of anyone over thirty was anathema, the attitude of dismissing older people as antiquated and obsolete has-beens who lack the omniscience of computerized intelligence still lingers on.

Those who refuse to learn from the mistakes of the past are doomed to repeat them. We would do well to swallow our youthful pride and benefit from the teachings of the school of experience.

Today I shall...

seek advice from my elders and give more serious consideration to deferring to their advice when it conflicts with my desires.

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